Accidental Needle Sticks: Chances of Infection

Accidental Needle Sticks: Chances of InfectionSkip to the navigation

Topic Overview

Everyone is concerned about getting a contagious disease, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), from a used needle. Most people are not considered at high risk for these infections, even if they accidentally come into contact with infected blood or body fluids.

Transmission of HIV from an accidental contact is extremely rare. The degree of risk depends on:

How much infected blood you are exposed to.

The amount of the virus present in the blood. People who have symptoms or those who are very sick with the disease tend to have greater amounts of the virus in their blood.

Protect yourself from accidental exposure by disposing of sharp objects properly and wearing protective gloves. The hepatitis B vaccine is safe and effective in preventing hepatitis B, so be sure to have current immunizations.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following steps if you have any exposure to blood:

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